No firecrackers in Delhi-NCR this Diwali as SC bans sale until Nov 1

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that there will be no sale of firecrackers during Diwali, as it restored a November 2016 order banning the sale and stocking of firecrackers in Delhi and National Capital Region.

A bench headed by Justice A K Sikri, while restoring the order, said: "We should see at least in one Diwali the impact of a cracker-free festivity."

However, the court said that the September 12, 2017 order lifting the ban on the sale and stocking of firecrackers in Delhi NCR will be back into effect from November 1.

However, the court said that the September 12, 2017 order lifting the ban on the sale and stocking of firecrackers in Delhi NCR will be back into effect from November 1.

"You have more firecrackers than the Indian Army. This can burn the whole country," the Supreme Court said on Monday after it was informed that 50 lakh kgs of fireworks were stocked in and around the National Capital Region (NCR).

A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta also observed that "Diwali is celebrated for around five days. In those five days, 10 lakh kilogrammes of firecrackers are used per day."

The apex court was left wondering when it was informed by one of the counsel that around 50 lakh kgs of firecrackers were lying in stock of the suppliers and distributors in the NCR and around one lakh kgs was in stock in Delhi alone.

The bench also wanted to know from the government what steps it has taken so far on banning Chinese firecrackers when the counsel for the domestic manufacturers alleged that there was "no quality control" on these foreign items.

The bench asked the government after the counsel for manufacturers claimed that the firecrackers imported from China were "much cheaper", but a lot of banned materials were used in them and there was no quality control.

"What have you (Centre) done about banning Chinese firecrackers," the bench asked Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand who said she would take instructions on the issue and get back to the court.

The apex court had in November last year directed the government to suspend all licences permitting the wholesale and retail sale of fireworks within the NCR and said that suspension would be in force till further orders.

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